Personal Memoirs of Ulysses s. Grant

The work is an autobiographical account detailing the life and military career of a prominent figure in American history, focusing on his experiences during the Mexican-American War and his early life leading up to it. The narrative begins with a genealogical background, tracing the author's ancestry back to early American settlers, and then transitions into his childhood in Ohio, where he describes his family dynamics, education, and early interests. As a young man, he attended West Point, where he faced challenges but ultimately graduated. His military career began in the U.S. Army, where he served in various capacities during the Mexican-American War. The author provides vivid descriptions of key battles, including Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, and the siege of Veracruz, highlighting the strategies employed, the conditions faced by soldiers, and the outcomes of these engagements. Throughout the narrative, the author reflects on the nature of military leadership, contrasting the styles of his superiors, such as Generals Taylor and Scott. He discusses the political implications of the war, the motivations behind the U.S. invasion of Mexico, and the impact of these events on both nations. The author also shares personal anecdotes, including his interactions with fellow officers and the challenges of military life, such as supply shortages and the harsh realities of combat. The work culminates in the capture of Mexico City and the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the war and resulted in significant territorial gains for the United States. The author expresses his views on the consequences of the war, the treatment of Mexican citizens, and the moral complexities surrounding the conflict. In the latter part of the memoir, the author recounts his post-war life, including his marriage and struggles with farming and business in the United States. He reflects on the changes in his life and the broader implications of the war on American society, ultimately providing a comprehensive and personal perspective on a pivotal moment in U.S. history. The memoir serves as both a historical document and a personal narrative, offering insights into the author's character, values, and the tumultuous era in which he lived.

By Ulysses S. Grant · First published 1885 · Genre: Memoir, History, Biography · 60 chapters · 266,019 words

First lines

My family is American, and has been for generations, in all its branches, direct and collateral.

Mathew Grant, the founder of the branch in America, of which I am a descendant, reached Dorchester, Massachusetts, in May, 1630. In 1635 he moved to what is now Windsor, Connecticut, and was the surveyor for that colony for more than forty years. He was also, for many years of the time, town clerk. He was a married man when he arrived at Dorchester, but his children were all born in this country. His eldest son, Samuel, took lands on the east side of the Connecticut River, opposite Windsor, which have been held and occupied by descendants of his to this day.

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Personal Memoirs of Ulysses s. Grant is listed on Textopian as a historical account by Ulysses S. Grant, dated 1885 CE.

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• Work type: Historical account
• Author: Ulysses S. Grant
• Date: 1885 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Memoir, History, Biography, Military, Autobiography
• Length: 266,019 words
• Structure: 71 chapters, 1,897 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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• Work identity for Personal Memoirs of Ulysses s. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant
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• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres

• Memoir — The book is a first-person account of Ulysses S. Grant's life and experiences.
• History — It provides detailed insights into the American Civil War and Grant's role in it.
• Biography — It chronicles the life and achievements of Ulysses S. Grant.
• Military — The narrative focuses on military strategies, battles, and leadership during the Civil War.

Tags

Memoir · Autobiography · Historical · Biographical · American · Civil War · Leadership · Politics · Military · Strategy · Tactics · Personal

Contents

• Ancestry -- Birth -- Boyhood
• West Point -- Graduation
• Army Life -- Causes of the Mexican War -- Camp Salubrity
• Corpus Christi -- Mexican Smuggling -- Spanish Rule in Mexico -- Supplying Transportation
• Trip to Austin -- Promotion to Full Second Lieutenant -- Army of Occupation
• Advance of the Army -- Crossing the Colorado -- the Rio Grande
• The Mexican War -- the Battle of Palo Alto -- the Battle of Resaca De La Palma -- Army of Invasion -- General Taylor -- Movement on Camargo
• Advance on Monterey -- the Black Fort -- the Battle of Monterey -- Surrender of the City
• Political Intrigue -- Buena Vista -- Movement against Vera Cruz -- Siege and Capture of Vera Cruz
• March to Jalapa -- Battle of Cerro Gordo -- Perote -- Puebla -- Scott and Taylor
• Advance on the City of Mexico -- Battle of Contreras -- Assault at Churubusco -- Negotiations for Peace -- Battle of Molino Del Rey -- Storming of Chapultepec -- San Cosme -- Evacuation of the City -- Halls of the Montezumas
• Promotion to First Lieutenant -- Capture of the City of Mexico -- the Army -- Mexican Soldiers -- Peace Negotiations
• Treaty of Peace -- Mexican Bull Fights -- Regimental Quartermaster -- Trip to Popocatapetl -- Trip to the Caves of Mexico
• Return of the Army -- Marriage -- Ordered to the Pacific Coast -- Crossing the Isthmus -- Arrival at San Francisco
• San Francisco -- Early California Experiences -- Life on the Pacific Coast -- Promoted Captain -- Flush Times in California
• Resignation -- Private Life -- Life at Galena -- the Coming Crisis
• Outbreak of the Rebellion -- Presiding at a Union Meeting -- Mustering Officer of State Troops -- Lyon at Camp Jackson -- Services Tendered to the Government
• Appointed Colonel of the 21st Illinois -- Personnel of the Regiment -- General Logan -- March to Missouri -- Movement against Harris at Florida, Mo
• Commissioned Brigadier-General -- Command at Ironton, Mo
• General Fremont in Command -- Movement against Belmont -- Battle of Belmont -- a Narrow Escape -- after the Battle
• General Halleck in Command -- Commanding the District of Cairo -- Movement on Fort Henry -- Capture of Fort Henry
• Investment of Fort Donelson -- the Naval Operations -- Attack of the Enemy -- Assaulting the Works -- Surrender of the Fort
• Promoted Major-General of Volunteers -- Unoccupied Territory -- Advance Upon Nashville -- Situation of the Troops -- Confederate Retreat -- Relieved of the Command -- Restored to the Command -- General Smith
• The Army at Pittsburg Landing -- Injured by a Fall -- the Confederate Attack at Shiloh -- the First Day's Fight at Shiloh -- General Sherman -- Condition of the Army -- Close of the First Day's Fight -- the Second Day's Fight -- Retreat and Defeat of the Confederates
• Struck by a Bullet -- Precipitate Retreat of the Confederates -- Intrenchments at Shiloh -- General Buell -- General Johnston -- Remarks on Shiloh
• Halleck Assumes Command in the Field -- the Advance Upon Corinth -- Occupation of Corinth -- the Army Separated
• Headquarters Moved to Memphis -- on the Road to Memphis -- Escaping Jackson -- Complaints and Requests -- Halleck Appointed Commander-In-Chief -- Return to Corinth -- Movements of Bragg -- Surrender of Clarksville -- the Advance Upon Chattanooga -- Sheridan Colonel of a Michigan Regiment
• Advance of Van Dorn and Price -- Price Enters Iuka -- Battle of Iuka
• Van Dorn's Movements -- Battle of Corinth -- Command of the Department of the Tennessee
• The Campaign against Vicksburg -- Employing the Freedmen -- Occupation of Holly Springs -- Sherman Ordered to Memphis -- Sherman's Movements down the Mississippi -- Van Dorn Captures Holly Springs -- Collecting Forage and Food
• Headquarters Moved to Holly Springs -- General M'Clernand in Command -- Assuming Command at Young's Point -- Operations above Vicksburg -- Fortifications about Vicksburg -- the Canal -- Lake Providence -- Operations at Yazoo Pass
• The Bayous West of the Mississippi -- Criticisms of the Northern Press -- Running the Batteries -- Loss of the Indianola -- Disposition of the Troops
• Attack on Grand Gulf -- Operations below Vicksburg
• Capture of Port Gibson -- Grierson's Raid -- Occupation of Grand Gulf -- Movement up the Big Black -- Battle of Raymond
• Movement against Jackson -- Fall of Jackson -- Intercepting the Enemy -- Battle of Champion's Hill
• Battle of Black River Bridge -- Crossing the Big Black -- Investment of Vicksburg -- Assaulting the Works
• Siege of Vicksburg
• Johnston's Movements -- Fortifications at Haines' Bluff -- Explosion of the Mine -- Explosion of the Second Mine -- Preparing for the Assault -- the Flag of Truce -- Meeting with Pemberton -- Negotiations for Surrender -- Accepting the Terms -- Surrender of Vicksburg
• Retrospect of the Campaign -- Sherman's Movements -- Proposed Movement Upon Mobile -- a Painful Accident -- Ordered to Report at Cairo
• First Meeting with Secretary Stanton -- General Rosecrans -- Commanding Military Division of Mississippi -- Andrew Johnson's Address -- Arrival at Chattanooga
• Assuming the Command at Chattanooga -- Opening a Line of Supplies -- Battle of Wauhatchie -- on the Picket Line
• Condition of the Army -- Rebuilding the Railroad -- General Burnside's Situation -- Orders for Battle -- Plans for the Attack -- Hooker's Position -- Sherman's Movements
• Preparations for Battle -- Thomas Carries the First Line of the Enemy -- Sherman Carries Missionary Ridge -- Battle of Lookout Mountain -- General Hooker's Fight
• Battle of Chattanooga -- a Gallant Charge -- Complete Rout of the Enemy -- Pursuit of the Confederates -- General Bragg -- Remarks on Chattanooga
• The Relief of Knoxville -- Headquarters Moved to Nashville -- Visiting Knoxville -- Cipher Dispatches -- Withholding Orders
• Operations in Mississippi -- Longstreet in East Tennessee -- Commissioned Lieutenant-General -- Commanding the Armies of the United States -- First Interview with President Lincoln
• The Military Situation -- Plans for the Campaign -- Sheridan Assigned to Command of the Cavalry -- Flank Movements -- Forrest at Fort Pillow -- General Banks's Expedition -- Colonel Mosby -- an Incident of the Wilderness Campaign
• Commencement of the Grand Campaign -- General Butler's Position -- Sheridan's First Raid
• Sherman's Campaign in Georgia -- Siege of Atlanta -- Death of General Mcpherson -- Attempt to Capture Andersonville -- Capture of Atlanta
• Grand Movement of the Army of the Potomac -- Crossing the Rapidan -- Entering the Wilderness -- Battle of the Wilderness
• After the Battle -- Telegraph and Signal Service -- Movement by the Left Flank
• Battle of Spottsylvania -- Hancock's Position -- Assault of Warren's and Wright's Corps -- Upton Promoted on the Field -- Good News from Butler and Sheridan
• Hancock's Assault -- Losses of the Confederates -- Promotions Recommended -- Discomfiture of the Enemy -- Ewell's Attack -- Reducing the Artillery
• Movement by the Left Flank -- Battle of North Anna -- an Incident of the March -- Moving on Richmond -- South of the Pamunkey -- Position of the National Army
• Advance on Cold Harbor -- an Anecdote of the War -- Battle of Cold Harbor -- Correspondence with Lee -- Retrospective
• Left Flank Movement Across the Chickahominy and James -- General Lee -- Visit to Butler -- the Movement on Petersburg -- the Investment of Petersburg
• Raid on the Virginia Central Railroad -- Raid on the Weldon Railroad -- Early's Movement Upon Washington -- Mining the Works before Petersburg -- Explosion of the Mine before Petersburg -- Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley -- Capture of the Weldon Railroad
• Sheridan's Advance -- Visit to Sheridan -- Sheridan's Victory in the Shenandoah -- Sheridan's Ride to Winchester -- Close of the Campaign for the Winter
• The Campaign in Georgia -- Sherman's March to the Sea -- War Anecdotes -- the March on Savannah -- Investment of Savannah -- Capture of Savannah
• The Battle of Franklin -- the Battle of Nashville

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